1st Edition

Approaching the EUropean Federation?

Edited By Søren Dosenrode Copyright 2007

    The European project has, within only 52 years, achieved a surprising momentum, and the European Union is now approaching full statehood. The Convention on the Future of Europe has finished its work and handed over a proposal for a constitutional treaty to the Heads of State and Government of the EU. It is therefore the ideal time to present an integrated analysis of what appears to be the emerging European State. This key volume therefore discusses the central questions and concepts within the field of European studies, which include federalism, the relationship between statehood and constitution, integration and constitution, the regions in the 'new' Europe and the EU as an international actor. These discussions are then developed and analyzed in relation to the draft constitution. Timely and insightful, the volume is suitable for courses on European integration, federalism and international politics.

    Chapter 1 Introduction, Søren Dosenrode; Chapter 2 Federalism, Søren Dosenrode; Chapter 3 Constitution and Legitimacy, Heidrun Abromeit; Chapter 4 Policy-making in Federations and in the EU, Søren Dosenrode; Chapter 5 The Presidencies – One Too Many?, Anna-Maija Kasanen; Chapter 6 EMU and the Budget: The Unusual but Rather Stable Monetary and Fiscal Arrangements of a Federation Sui Generis, Wolfgang Zank; Chapter 7 The Regions in the New Europe, Kaisa Lähteenmäki-Smith; Chapter 8 The State of EU Foreign Policy – Constituting a Global Player, Knud Erik Jørgensen; Chapter 9 The EUropean Federation, Søren Dosenrode;

    Biography

    Søren Dosenrode is Jean Monnet Professor for European Politics and Administration and Director of the Centre for Comparative Integration Studies at Aalborg University, Denmark. He researches and publishes broadly on questions of regional integration. His last Ashgate publication was The Nordic Regions and the European Union which he edited together with Henrik Halkier.

    'For those (including myself) who thought that federalism on a European scale was a dead letter (or wished it so), this book could change your mind. Its thesis is bold: the EU is already a state with a federal regime - albeit unique in both senses. Agree with them or not, the authors of this unusually coherent collection of essays make a strong case for the need to use federalist theory to comprehend the future of European integration.' Philippe C. Schmitter, European University Institute, Italy ’This is not just another collective volume on the European Union but a theoretically integrated joint venture of Danish and German scholars with a clear hypothesis about the budding asymmetrical federalism in Europe!’ Klaus von Beyme, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Germany '...this work allows the reader to reflect on the question of what the European Union is and if it is truly on its way to becoming a federation. This is not the least of the book's merits.' Etudes Internationales 'The writing is interesting, the topics are pertinent to contemporary Europe and its relationship with the member-states and citizens, and the conclusions are fascinating. In all, Dosenrode's work helps the reader understand that the EU - as a federation- is relevant.' European Legacy